Photo circulating online not missing teen Sebastian Rogers, officials say
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SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Following a potential sighting of a teen at the center of a missing persons investigation, the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the child was not 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers.
The photo began circulating on social media nearly two months after Sebastian was reported missing from his Hendersonville home off Stafford Court on Monday, Feb. 26.
To several people, including Sebastian’s father, Seth Rogers, the photo appeared to show a teen very similar to Sebastian’s description at a visitors’ center in North Carolina.
However, after “coordinated efforts” with law enforcement agencies in North Carolina, the sheriff’s office said Tuesday it had determined the child in the photo was not Sebastian.
“We understand the gravity of the situation and the concerns it has raised,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release. “Our collaborative efforts with law enforcement agencies continue unabated as we remain committed to finding Sebastian.”
Several massive search efforts have been carried out since the teen with autism was reported missing, including one at a Kentucky landfill where trash went from his home. However, all have turned up empty.
TIMELINE: The disappearance of Sumner County teen Sebastian Rogers
Still, investigators have continuously stated that there has been no evidence pointing to foul play in his disappearance. The last update from the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office was a Facebook post on Thursday, April 4.
The post announced the end of the most recent search effort and said in part, “There are no significant events to report from the search efforts. We, along with the many other agencies involved, remain committed to investigating this case.”
Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers, 15, was reported missing on Monday, Feb. 26 from the Beech area in Hendersonville.
Sebastian Rogers: Description
Sebastian is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 120 pounds with dirty blond hair. He was last seen on Monday, Feb. 26 near Stafford Court wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants, said the TBI.
AMBER Alert Issued
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) originally issued an Endangered Child Alert for Sebastian on the morning of Feb. 26 as multiple agencies took to the area to look for him.
Based on additional investigative information developed during the search, the TBI issued an AMBER Alert for Sebastian on the afternoon of Feb. 27. An AMBER Alert is issued when there is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred and the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, per the DOJ.
Multiple agencies including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Nashville Fire Department, City of Hendersonville’s first responders, Sumner County Sheriff’s Office and Shackle Island Volunteer Fire have assisted in the search for Sebastian.
Who to Contact
If you have seen Sebastian or have info about his whereabouts, call the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office at (615) 451-3838 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
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